Pre-Dental Seminar

Pre-Dental Seminar

Program of Study

The Pre-Dental Education Seminar at Creighton University is a three-year, five-semester program. PDDS is tiered to build across each semester starting with PDDS 102 in the Spring semester of the freshman year and concluding with PDDS 302 in the Spring semester of the junior year. Any Creighton student interested in dental school is welcome to register for the seminar.

Year One

PDDS 102

Topics covered in this first semester in the Pre-Dental Education series include: professionalism and integrity, volunteering, shadowing, patient confidentiality and dental records, the dental profession, and the dental school application process. Students will be introduced to the “Creighton Online dental and Professional Application System” (COMPAS) Journal to build an online portfolio of accomplishments, and will learn about the activities and preparation that are necessary to have a competitive application to dental school. Additional advising is also given regarding the selection of academic courses.

Year Two

PDDS 201

In the second semester of the Pre-Dental Education series, students continue to prepare to apply to dental school by writing a resume, as well as learning about possible research experiences and requesting letters of recommendation. Discernment opportunities include a panel of healthcare professionals from the community and a panel to discuss ways to obtain patient care experience in an employment setting.

PDDS 202

Students receive a detailed preview of the dental school application and learn about the Dental Admission Test (DAT) in the third semester of PDDS. Directions about preparation and academic coursework are provided to assist with readiness on this standardized exam. Financial Literacy and a Self-Assessment Module help students take stock of their progress towards a competitive application. Discernment on the many ways to dental school includes Gap Year options, Post-Baccalaureate programs, and Master’s degrees.

Year Three

PDDS 301

In the fourth semester of PDDS students revise their resume, review their activities, and write a personal statement. Students are advised regarding their progress towards a competitive application and information about DAT preparation is offered. The opportunity to Shadowing a dental Student (SAMS), allows PDDS students to visit classes in Creighton’s School of Medicine.

PDDS 302

Elements of the final semester of PDDS include personal statement workshops, Interviewing Skills Workshop, and a thorough review of Associated American Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS), and collecting the final elements needed for dental school applications. The Campus Letter Application process is explained, and students are introduced to the on-campus letter of recommendation collection service.

Key Components of the Pre-Dental Education Seminar

In addition to providing information and resources to prepare for an application to dental school, PDDS also encompasses programming and advising to assist students in deciding if this is the best path for them.

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Campus Letter of Endorsement

Pending the successful completion of all five semesters of the PDDS program, Creighton University provides a campus letter for students to include in their dental school applications. Students holding the letter give dental schools the confidence to know that they are not only a viable candidate for their dental program but they are also truly prepared for the rigors of dental school.

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COMPAS Journal

PDDS students are provided an online tool to track their dental school application materials with the Creighton Online Medical and Professional Application System (COMPAS) Journal. Students build their application materials through all five semesters of PDDS. The COMPAS Journal is modeled after AADSAS, the national application service used by major dental schools in the country.

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Mock Interviews and Workshops

Medical school interviews are a critical part of the application process. Through PDDS, students learn interviewing techniques and participate in feedback-driven mock interviews to prepare for their dental school interviews.

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Professional Communication Seminar

Often the first contact that dental schools have with a student is the written word. PDDS provides workshops for students to develop their personal statements and resumes for their applications to dental school.

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Guest Speakers

From current dental students to dental school admissions professionals and experts in the field of healthcare, PDDS gives students the chance to hear from and ask questions to a host of individuals that provide insight into the application process or what to expect in and out of dental school.